Some of you probably know, the OU have changed their tune and are axing AA302 sooner than previously stated.

A couple of OU folks who are current/previous AA302 students have opined that it'd be possible for someone with sufficient music experience/fluency in reading to do this course without studying A214 first. (& have also suggested it would actually help with A214 should I decide to do that in future )

I am tempted by this possibility, as if I don't do it next year chances are I'll never be able to.

So... if you've done it (I know Jane has and I think there are a couple of others), help me out: What does it entail? How tough would it be without A214 first?

I've a rusty G5 theory and have done some G6 and some other harmony work at school. I did A Level music many centuries ago we didn't do the formal tests in BC and stuff that the current lot do but covered a fair amount of harmony for our composing etc.

I've never studied music at this level, but have studied at degree level. I would obviously be hoping to do OK, but wouldn't feel a great need to be getting distinctions or anything!


Oh Know, that was the course i wanted to do as it counts towards the Diploma in Music :-(

My reading of music is pretty much fluent, very much so in treble clef, fairly fluent in alto and bass.

I have time to gen up on stuff before the start of the course if there's something I can do as prep.

I don't entirely know what the module requires, I understand there's a fair amount of score editing and stuff.

I don't know how much help A214 is to the module if you don't need the music reading help it gives...

Anyone able to help me out here?

By the time I'd be thinking about registering, I should have completed 2 short courses (one in music), with the prospect of one or maybe two more done before the start of the course, so will (I hope!) have successfully got on with some distance learning (or found out it doesn't work for me, in which case the point is moot ). Any thoughts on how feasible this is would be gratefully received...

Anyone who has a requisite IDs and stuff to log on to the OU student conferences, PLEASE check out the music conferences where a petition is being circulated to protest against, yes, dumbing down in the OU's music provision.

Thanks for the info. I'll check that out and add my name to it!

As a singer, I'm looking forward to Words and Music next year. I'm hoping it will be much more me than the outgoing course. I'll let you know if I think it's dumbing down or not. Of course, you may subscribe to the view that singers are not really musicians anyway......

When I went back to the OU last year after several years gap I was delighted to see so many new music courses. Great, I thought, now my 150 Music points can be made up to some more sensible number, which will be a huge advantage to me if ever I need to go back to teaching.

I might potentially apply to to teach Music, as far as I can see, and probably it won't pass muster with the GTC either, if ever they go down the same route as their Scottish counterpart and inisist on a certain number of points to teach a particular subject at secondary level

The trouble is there simply IS no provider of distance learning for Music. It would be wonderful if someone would offer a proper BMus available at a distance, say a University teaming up with the Associated Board or Trinity College.

I put on a post somewhere (which seems to have got lost on the adult thread) that my OU degree was accepted by the GTC for PGCE training. Even with all the course changes I would hope that the OU is not going to do away with its named degree options. In this case the BA(Hons) in Humanities with Music. I suppose the danger is the secondary providers might change their minds whether they accept it or not.

However, I was lucky back in 1997-98 because I caught the cross-over from the old A314 to the then new AA302, and both were accepted for the degree. If it had a been a year later there would only have been one level 3 music course - so I can see now that would have been a huge problem for the status of the named degree.

In a way the AB do have an agreement with the OU in the use of credit points and music courses. Not sure if you would call it a 'team- up' though. Perhaps there are future developments in the pipe-line and the OU have to dumb down before they can renew. Who knows....

I put on a post somewhere (which seems to have got lost on the adult thread) that my OU degree was accepted by the GTC for PGCE training. Even with all the course changes I would hope that the OU is not going to do away with its named degree options. In this case the BA(Hons) in Humanities with Music. I suppose the danger is the secondary providers might change their minds whether they accept it or not.

However, I was lucky back in 1997-98 because I caught the cross-over from the old A314 to the then new AA302, and both were accepted for the degree. If it had a been a year later there would only have been one level 3 music course - so I can see now that would have been a huge problem for the status of the named degree.

In a way the AB do have an agreement with the OU in the use of credit points and music courses. Not sure if you would call it a 'team- up' though. Perhaps there are future developments in the pipe-line and the OU have to dumb down before they can renew. Who knows....

Of course not, but the point is that "words and music" seems to be equally about literature, it says "the course will be accessible to students from both musical and literature backgrounds". That doesn't sound like a very suitable third level music course to me, bearing in mind that as from next year it will be the ONLY third level music course.

Just to add you will not need A214 to do AA302.

I think it would be possible to do AA302 with essay writing skills and not a deal of knowledge about music theory, it covers more music history, and different music cultures (like ethnomusicology stuff) than technical stuff.

Sarah you will be absolutely fine with it. A214 would be a waste of money for you, I bet you would not actually learn anything. You know it all already.

There was no summer school for AA302, but there was a weekend aranged by one of the regions that I went too which was great.

I'm planning on doing the AA302 next year. It would be nice to support each other!!

Sarah you will be absolutely fine with it. A214 would be a waste of money for you, I bet you would not actually learn anything. You know it all already.

As a singer, I'm looking forward to Words and Music next year. I'm hoping it will be much more me than the outgoing course. I'll let you know if I think it's dumbing down or not. Of course, you may subscribe to the view that singers are not really musicians anyway......

A214 would be a waste of money for you, I bet you would not actually learn anything. You know it all already.

AmandaL - I found your post really interesting - thank you. May I ask - are you an OU tutor, or do you know one (or more)? I was wondering how you know that "a lot of the existing OU music tutors are not impressed with the Words and Music course"?

I am not usually one to be controversial or want to disagree with others (I'm not that confident) but I am sure that Sarah, or anyone else for that matter would learn something from A214. No-one knows it all even if it is not necessary to take A214 before AA302. A214 is very a much a course that moves from the known to the unknown. It covers an awful lot of detail in the space of nine months and you have to pass the final Bach Chorale TMA to pass the whole course. It is not as easy as some are suggesting. Just because the AB accept it as equivalent to only Grade 6 theory for DipABRSM purposes does not mean it is exactly equivalent in content. A214 covers some Grade 8 theory - augmented 6th chords, score reading and analysis - quite a long list.

Yes, I do know a couple of the OU music tutors. They attend staff meetings and converse amongst themselves, so I get to hear about the latest goings on.

For me personally, the Words and Music course is too much of a fence-sitter and I would not be interested in studying a module which is unlikely to be viewed (by other institutions) as comparable to their own music courses.

They've done similar things with science/social history courses (A218 and AS208), so this cross-over type of course is not a new idea with the OU. Equal numbers of students have complained that a particular course is too much science or too much social history, depending on what their background of study is. AA317 is likely to invoke similar reactions.

As a word of advice, I would not recommend anyone study a course in its first year of presentation. There are often teething troubles with course materials, TMAs etc. and these often cause problems for students and tutors alike. If you really want to do the course AnnC, then I would wait until 2009 when the OU will have had the chance to iron out any creases and the first batch of students may have posted their views about the course on the OU website.

Cool!

I need to look into funding but this is looking a real possibility.

Jane, thank you, that's really helpful!


If I can get funding I'd like to do it one day for the music diploma/a possible "humanities with music" degree, but I do get the impression that besides that it would be not too hard for an experienced musician.

Yes, I do know a couple of the OU music tutors. They attend staff meetings and converse amongst themselves, so I get to hear about the latest goings on.

For me personally, the Words and Music course is too much of a fence-sitter and I would not be interested in studying a module which is unlikely to be viewed (by other institutions) as comparable to their own music courses.

They've done similar things with science/social history courses (A218 and AS208), so this cross-over type of course is not a new idea with the OU. Equal numbers of students have complained that a particular course is too much science or too much social history, depending on what their background of study is. AA317 is likely to invoke similar reactions.

As a word of advice, I would not recommend anyone study a course in its first year of presentation. There are often teething troubles with course materials, TMAs etc. and these often cause problems for students and tutors alike. If you really want to do the course AnnC, then I would wait until 2009 when the OU will have had the chance to iron out any creases and the first batch of students may have posted their views about the course on the OU website.

Sounds like a plan!

It's the applying for funding that scares me! (else I'd probably be mid-214 at the moment...!)

As a word of advice, I would not recommend anyone study a course in its first year of presentation. There are often teething troubles with course materials, TMAs etc. and these often cause problems for students and tutors alike.

That bit's easy, Sarah. I've helped a few people do it. Just register for the course you want, and click on the (something like) "I intend to apply for funding for this course" button, and - bingo - an application form will be delivered by Postman Pat the next week!

It was the having to ring people up about it that scared me. Because I already have a degree, but am on income support, I can potentially get funding, but only for courses/subjects to use for work in areas that I don't have. This requires me to ring up my local rep and tell them about it. And I hate phones. Last Christmas I was so brain fuzzed that I couldn't face it. Sounds pathetic I know but hoping I'll summon up the courage this time around.

I might just do that

I actually quite like the look of the Words and Music course - as both a musician and someone who's into literature, it looks intriguing to me.

What narks me off is the fact that this course will be the ONLY level 3 music course... English Lit already have a half hundredweight of courses, so why a music course that has been so diluted that it's as suitable for Lit as for Music students, indeed apparently requires little in the way of musical skills, and would probably be sneered on as a Level 3 music course by many institutions would be left as the only music course at this level I really can't tell

Might see you there then, Ann!

There is a petition against the axing of AA314 and AA302 on First Class music forums of anyone wants to sign it. (You have to be a current student of the OU, or within a year of it to access these forums.)
I've exercised a woman's perogative after your very helpful posts, and changed my mind - am now doing AA302 next year. Someome who has recently completed her MA(Mus)(Open) has told me that AA302 is a perfect preparation for it. So, thanks again for your advice.